Flash of Lightning

  Lightning had failed.

  Here she sat, upon her Goddess'es throne. It was impossible to know how long ago Etro had died, for time did not flow in Valhalla. But she knew it wasn't long.

  The crystal stasis was slowly engulfing her. It was not painful, in fact it was almost enjoyable. Like stepping into a warm bath, it made her feel relaxed and calm.

  She wondered if it felt like this when Discord was cursed to live as a pillar of concrete.

  As the Guardian slowly transformed into Etro's tombstone, she thought back to the trials of the past few days. It was not long ago that she'd battled Orphan. Not long ago that she'd battled Cauis. Not long ago that she'd fought with Serah and her idiot fiance. So much fighting. It almost felt wrong, not fighting anymore. But she had to rest. Right now, Lightning had one last mission. She needed to take Etro's place, only to awaken when the world ended again. With Etro gone, Lightning had to...to...Sweet Celestia, she didn't know what she had to do, but she knew Etro would want her to protect humanity, her children.

  Etro was dead, and only Lightning knew the power she'd left behind.

  It was frightening, as frightening as when she was first cursed to become l'Cie. A part of her feared that this world where time did not exist would never end. But that was okay. She had friends who'd taught her how to be brave.

* * *

  The Shrine of Etro was a perfect reflection of the Godess. It was beautifuly intricate in it's architecture. Yet the building was also cold and sad, another extention of the endless gloom that is Valhalla. Standing before a chimera of crystal and stone that she could only guess was a throne, Lightning heard a voice.

  "Welcome, Claire Farron."

  "Who...?' Lightning drew her Gunblade and searched for the speaker. Only when it spoke again did she realised it was coming from her heart.

  "I'm so sorry this happened to you..." it said again, Lightning's heart becoming much heavier, as if to emphasize the being's sadness.

  "What is this?! Are you some sort of fal'Cie?"

  "Yes, and no," the being said. By now, she could tell it was female, and spoke with a soft voice," I am Etro, the Goddess of Death, Bhunivelze's Rejected Daughter, Caretaker of Chaos, Mother of Humanity, and Keeper of the Unseen Gate."

  "Etro...Are you the one that brought me here?" Lightning asked, now staring at the throne. It was hard to believe that a Goddess was speaking to her, but given what she'd done over the past few days, she wasn't surprised. After taking down Cocoon's government, stopping a falling continent with a crystal pillar, and being dragged to another world by darkness, Lightning didn't think much could surprise her anymore.

  "No," the Goddess replied," A much more sinister force brought you to Valhalla-"

  "Is that where I am now?"

  "Yes. But please-"

  "What brought me here?"

  "It was-"

  "What about Serah and the others? Are they oka-"

  "My Daughter!' Etro yelled, Lightning's heart radiating a power that caused the shrine to groan in protest," All your questions shall be answered in time. Your friends and family are safe, I promise you. Now please, I have brought you to my Shrine for a much more important matter."

  "Why? Why did you bring me?" Lightning asked. A light began to glow from above as Etro said," I have seen your courage and sacrifice, child. But there is a war happening. While my Gate was open, I freed you and your friends from Crystal Stasis as gratitude for saving my children in Cocoon, but your actions had unseen consequences. You were written out of the timeline, but I brought you here because I see potential in you. Lightning, I would like you to become my Guardian."

  It was too much for her. Lightning thought about it, how her reward for saving Cocoon was simply fading away from history. But that's what lightning does, right? It flashed bright then fades away...," You want me to be your guardian? Why?"

  "I cannot explain everything right now, but my power is waning. When the Gate opened and the Chaos was freed it took much of my power to bring it back under my control, and even more power to free your friends and re-seal the Gate. I must rest, and I need your help. I need you to defend me from the one I am fighting with.

  "I need your help, please," she pleaded, Etro's tear ran down Lightning's cheek. Right now, Etro had made them one. Clair felt the Goddess'es emotions, saw what she saw and knew what she knew. The connection was so powerful that she could see glimpses of Bhunivelze's daughter on the Throne before her.

  Lightning knelt, and said sternly," Divine Etro, you saved my sister, my friends and my home. I shall guard you with my life."

  "Thank you," Etro replied," But you must prove yourself first. I can see potential in you, but your true power has not been awakened. I must send you on a trial, beyond time and space."

  "I will go," Lightning said, a feather caressing her cheek. She rose, and found several of the things falling like snowflakes upon her. As she reached out to them, and light engulfed her. It was blinding, yet beautiful. The soldier felt her conscious being lifted out of her body and out of Valhalla. The Goddess' link wavered and faded until Lightning only heard a few faint words of farewell.

  "Remember, your greatest power comes from the piece of me in all creatures."

* * *

  Twilight stared into the telescope, taking careful notes on Neighptune. One of it's moons was scheduled to pass the planet and nothing short of a meteor falling on her house would stop her from recording the event. A late night spent in the pursuit of knowledge was not a new thing for Twilight. Greeting the night sky was more like greeting an old friend to her. The night air was cool, most of Ponyville was asleep, and not a sound disrupted her.

  Until Spike loudly dropped her astronomy journals and star maps on a nearby table.

  "I still don't see what's so important," the dragon said, repressing a yawn,"  The same moon passes over the same planet every year, so why loose sleep and watch it again?"

  "I told you Spike, the transit of Gallopea across Neighptune's surface was the first astronomical event I ever watched as Celestia's pupil. It holds a special place in my heart and alot of memories."

  "I guess," he said, looking up at the sky,"...Do you ever wonder if there are other ponies out there?"

  "On Neighptune? No," Twilight replied bluntly," It's been disprooven. Besides, if there were other ponies in the universe, wouldn't Celestia or Luna try to make contact?"

  "Well maybe they're not from this universe," he suggested," Maybe they're from so far away, even the Princesses don't know about them? Or maybe they're from another dimension, or-"

  "Spike, are we really having a conversation about aliens?" the librarian asked, finally looking up from her telescope.

  "Well I think it'd be cool," he said, pouting a bit.

  Twilight chuckled and said," You read way too many comic books."

  "I thought you wanted me reading more?"

  "Reading literature, yes. Reading out of this world stories, no."

  "'Out of this world'? Says the unicorn who fought off Nightmare Moon and Discord."

  She laughed, having been beaten. As she levitated a few of the scrolls to her side, she heard Spike yawn. Sisterly instincts taking hold, Twilight said," Y'know, it's late Spike, maybe you should go to bed."

  "Y'sure you..." he yawned again,"...don't need me?"

  "I can take care of myself," she said. After a few "good-nights", and the silent patter of footsteps departing, silence returned to the Golden Oaks Library.

  Once again Twilight adjusted the telescope, trying to get just the right view of the transit. However she was soon taken away from her thoughts. Something odd: a star, brighter than the rest that wasn't on any of her maps shined beside Neightpune. It glowed with luminance unlike anything the unicorn had ever seen, an almost alien beauty.

  "Amazing!" she said as the star grew brighter and brighter. At first, she thought it was an undiscovered moon, but then it seemed more like a Supernova explosion, or a flare. The star just kept expanding until the light completely engulfed the lense. Twilight had to blink the dark spots from her eyes as the light materialized over Sweet Apple Acres.

  Not stopping to think what it might be, the librarian galloped out the door. She ran through the empty streets of Ponyville, never keeping her eyes off the star which now looked like a small sun. Even the orchards were unusually quiet. As she stepped onto her friend's property, Twilight saw the entire Apple family watching the display from their porch. She ran up to them, barely getting her words out with each pant," Applejack, do you know what that is?"

  "Ah'll be darned if ah do Twilight," the orange pony replied. Applejack adjusted her stetson, still staring at the light," Ah think it looks like uh-"

  The light let out a shockwave, knocking everypony over. Macintosh helped Grannt Smith back up, and Applejack helped Twilight back to her feet. When they looked back, the farmer replied," Ah'd say it looks like...uhh..."

  "A door..." Twilight replied. Where the ball of light once floated, a strange stone formation, shaped like some sort of eye hovered above. Wrapped in panes of glass and granite, it opened and spat something out. The sound of bells and a screaming wind echoed across the farm. Twilight was off again.

  "Twilight, wait!" Applejack yelled before she chased down her friend. The two sped towards the decending form, stopping only when they were directly beneath the eye. The strange thing continued it's slow fall, like a snowflake. Soon they realized it was...some sort of animal. It stood on two legs, and it's pink mane curled around what they thought was her head, and it's pale skin glowed in the heavenly light. A red cape billowed from otherworldly clothes, and it held what they could only guess was a sword, though warped and deformed with all sorts of weird attatchments.

  And then it opened it's blue eyes and spoke.

  "Wh-What are you!?' it demanded. Kneeling, it pointed the metal thing at the ponies. That's not good Twilight thought.

  "Where am I!? Are you fal'Cie!? Cie'eth? Some other monster? Did Etro send you?! ANSWER ME!!!" it waved the silver thing furiously as it yelled. The mares looked up, and behind the creature Mac held a large branch in his teeth. With a thud, he hit the alien on the head, and it fell to the ground face first.

  "Nice one, Mac," Applejack replied, the three still staring at this....thing.